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WHO'S WHO
Starring
Amanda Bynes (Holly Tyler)
Jennie Garth (Valerie Tyler)
Simon Rex (Jeff)
Wesley Jonathan (Gary)
Written by
Stacy Traub
Directed by
Shelley Jensen
SYNOPSIS
Holly leaves for school wearing a shirt that doesn't make it all the way
to her waist. Valerie makes her change it, and Holly tells her she's
acting like a mom. Valerie talks over the conversation with Jeff and
makes the resolution to be not a mother figure but a "cool older
sister" and thereby relax her authority over Holly. The new Val's
behavior puzzles Holly: first, Val lets her sis stay up late on a school
night watching TV. Then she not only approves of another relatively
skimpy shirt, but takes Holly to brunch with her, giving her a fake
doctor's note ("Clark's Syndrome") to get in school late.
Holly takes this to mean that Val has no rules anymore, and in an
eyeblink she and Gary are off to an overnight party on Long Island in
his brother's car. Holly leaves big sis a note -- and her cell phone. So
Val and Jeff have to track the high schoolers down via car, since Holly
also left behind a flyer for the party.
Along the way, though, Holly and Gary get a
flat tire, and have a world of trouble trying to change it. A flustered
Holly, taunted by leering motorists, grabs a metallic sunshade and wraps
it around her rear. The shiny wrap catches the eye of Jeff and Val, who
pull over to rescue Holly and fix the car. But the car rolls down the
embankment and crashes into a tree. At least Holly is safe and sound,
having learned a lesson about how important it is to have someone
looking out for you in a high place.
SHOW NOTES
This was the first episode directed by Shelley Jensen, who has had over
15 years experience directing TV episodes for many top shows including
Wil Calhoun's "Jesse".
There is quite a bit of what might be termed
"product placement" in this show, more so than on any prior
episode. Some of the items featured prominently are Act II microwave
popcorn, Duncan Hines cake frosting, Quaker Apple Zaps cereal,
Poppycock, Post Blueberry Morning cereal, Fritos Scoops, and Microsoft
X-Box.
The radio station stuck in the time warp with the bagpipe music and 17th
century songs is eerily reminiscent of one of Long Island's most
distinctive radio stations: WLNG (92.1 FM) in Sag Harbor, on the
island's East End (similar to where Holly and Gary were headed). The
station has been operating for nearly 40 years (on FM, it had been on
1600 AM as well until about two years ago) with an odd mix of today's
music and yesterday's hits, coupled with a mobile unit who does remotes
at fairs and shopping centers -- nearly 300 a year. It's believed to be
the only commercial FM station in the USA that broadcasts in mono, and
it still uses the original PAMS jingles they started with 40 years ago.
Dan Schneider's voice is heard as that of the
pitchman in the fake Hairgami infomerical.
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
Not as many physical stunts in this one, but Gary has an interesting bit
where he stands on a tire wrench trying to loosen the lug nuts. Holly
has some good moments writhing around the free-rolling car and trying to
change the tire in her short skirt.
HIDING BOB
A six-months-pregnant Jennie Garth spends most of the first scene of the
show behind the breakfast nook counter. She eats an outsized bowl of
popcorn on the couch in another scene, and spends a good chunk of Act 2
riding in a car. Her final scene features her sitting at the nook
table.
NEXT LINE, PLEASE
VALERIE: She wanted to go to school half-naked just because all her
friends do. I mean, if all her friends wanted her to jump of a bridge, I
supp-- (pauses) oh, my God! I do sound like a mom!
JEFF: So what if you do? She's your little sister! You're just looking
out for her!
VALERIE: No! I said "jump off a bridge"! I used to hate
hearing that when I was a kid!
JEFF: I used to hate hearing "Don't eat anything bigger than your
head"!
GARY: My parents would never let me miss a minute of school. I would
love not to get the perfect attendance award -- and the ridicule that
comes with it.
HOLLY: Perfect attendance is something you should celebrate, and --
(giggles) -- be proud of.
GARY: Yeah, that's what it says on the sash!
GARY: I'll get it. (pauses and freezes)
HOLLY: What?
GARY: I can't do it! I'm afraid!
HOLLY: Of what?
GARY: Hoboes!
HOLLY: Hoboes?!? Do they even exist?
GARY: Girl, yeah, they're making a big comeback!
HOLLY: Gary, why would a hobo do anything to you?
GARY: Because they've got nothing to lose!
HOLLY: I'll get it, then!
GARY: Well don't be tempted by their free-spirited lifestyle!
OUR REVIEW
This week's episode of "What I
Like About You", "Cool Older Sister", again revolves
around Val's rules, or more precisely her relaxation of them, tiptoed
around by Holly in her totally engaging way. It's the first "What I
Like About You" penned by producer Stacy Traub, and it was the
first directed by Shelley Jensen (but not shown until tonight).
It all starts when Holly leaves for school in a
pair of her famous low-rise jeans and a navel-bearing crop top. When
Valerie objects and makes Holly change into a more modest shirt, Holly
tells her she sounds more like a mom than a sister. This spooks Val, so
Val decides to loosen the reins on her sis, trying to be less of an
authority figure but more like a "cool older sister". Val
allows Holly to stay up late on a school night and eat Duncan Hines
frosting right out of the tub. She lets Holly wear another
belly-exposing top coupled with a miniskirt to school the next day. But
the next move goes to Holly, as she leaves her sister a note saying
she's going to a party on Long Island overnight, and will be back the
next morning. Val and Jeff take off for the party, but don't quite make
it that far...and for that matter, neither do Holly and Gary, as they
suffer a flat tire and are stranded. Val admits fault in seeming like
there were no rules anymore, Holly apologizes for her lapse of reason,
and all is well casa Tyler for another week.
Stacy Traub's first effort for "What I
Like About You" is a no-frills winner, wisely eschewing any hint of
a subplot and any and all guest stars to advance the story. The fact
that there've already been two out of five episodes of "WILAY"
with no guest cast pretty much spells out the fact that this cast can
carry a show on their own merits. Once again Amanda Bynes turns in some
winning bits, especially the roadside scenes where she's attempting to
change a tire in her short skirt, and sensing a draft (how much more
politely can I put that?), wraps a metallic windshield sun visor around
her butt. Plus, her scenes with Jennie Garth as Val are relaxed, funny
and very natural, more so than on any episode yet of the show. And at
the risk of sounding boorish, a great way to crank up the male demos is
to pump up Amanda's level of va-va-voom, hence, the short skirts and the
peek-a-boo belly button...this episode's probably a harbinger of what's
to come on the show regarding Holly's physical blossoming and the other
characters' reactions to it. Pretty much what Kaley Cuoco is doing on
"8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter", but in a more
restrained and responsible way.
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EPISODE GALLERY
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Holly leaves for school, all teen trendy in low rise jeans and a
peek-a-boo top. |
Her sister Val recommends she start a new trend and put some
clothes on. |
Holly is tired of starting new trends ever since she originated
the famous phrase "talk to the hand". |
So she'll look in a special place in her
closet for some more sensible garb. |
Come to think of it, have you ever seen an
Amish person's belly button? Barn raisings aren't ever that
wild! |
Holly, now less provocatively dressed, leaves
for school. |
Holly remarks that Val sounds like "such a
mom". |
Val then replies with a phrase she invented,
"Whatever!" So talk to the hand! |
The next night's a school night, and Holly's up late watching
TV. She promises to get right to bed. |
She has an interesting alarm
clock that wakes her up to go to bed. It has a bag of
popcorn in it. |
Oddly, Val doesn't seem to mind Holly's up and
around on a weeknight. |
So the new "cool" Val joins her sister
on the couch for a night of TV viewing. |
Here's a cool idea...Holly has a container of
cake frosting.... |
...which she sticks the microwave popcorn in and
eats it. |
Try it at your next party! But eat
sensibly.
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Poor Valerie! She's on one of those Act II and
Duncan Hines induced "lost weekday" benders. |
Not just a Twizzler, but the hair of the
dog. |
Here's another clue Val's changed. We can clearly
make out Holly's belly button, and Val doesn't seem to
mind. |
Nor do we. |
Odder yet, Val takes Holly out to breakfast and
will give her sis a fake doctor's note to give to the
principal. |
Still, Holly thinks Val has cross
purposes. |
After school, Holly explains the odd events of
the morning to Gary. And yes, it does have to do with bacon! |
Our cutie laughs at the notion that some
people, like Gary, attend school every day. |
More of Val's wild, loose and quite shocking behavior! |
Gary mildly encourages Holly to explore her new
freedom... |
...and before you know it, she and Gary are winging
their way to a party on Long Island. |
Say cheese! |
Gary tells Holly to crank the stereo system to
get them both in the party mood. |
What are Holly and Gary rocking out to? Would you believe
the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards? |
That music went out of style pretty quickly! |
Holly points out something in the road, but Gary
can't get out of the way in time. |
Gary's got a flat...and Holly doesn't have her
cell phone with her! |
But at least they can still play the
radio... |
...from hell. 17th century dance tunes! |
So Holly and Gary are on the side of the road,
with Val and Jeff trying to track them down. |
Advice to female motorists: it's quite nearly
impossible to change a tire in a short skirt. |
Holly tries a variety of angles that'll allow her
to change the tire and not be on display. |
But a car does pass, and gives an approving honk
that startles our girl. |
So Holly, feeling the need for some modesty,
grabs the first thing she can find -- a windshield
visor... |
...and fashions a pair of pants out of it. |
At least she'll always be pointing Magnetic North! |
Holly is in disagreement with Gary about where to
place the jack. |
Gary just seems to think where Holly wants it is wrong.
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Holly flunks her NASCAR pit crew test as Gary putters in the
trunk.
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Holly tracks the circuitous
route of the runaway tire. |
Gary won't get the tire for a very good
reason...he's scared to death of hoboes. |
So guess who retrieved the tire? |
A passing car stops, its occupants having seen
the reflective pants of Holly. It turns out to be Val and
Jeff. |
As Jeff and Gary take care of the car, Holly and
Val discuss the younger sis' road trip. |
Holly said she didn't take her cell phone because
it didn't fit in her skirt, to which Val replies, "You
don't fit in your skirt." |
But freedom isn't always fun, and Holly wants nothing more than
to go home. |
Looks like Gary's car may beat them all home --
only with nobody in it! |
Who's driving? |
It was a nice car too! |
Gary blames the hoboes, but at least they have a
cool car now! |
Holly apologizes for last night's antics... |
...but Val thinks she may have been more at fault. |
Holly, though, types herself as a person who
would throw herself into-trouble full-bore. |
So it's off to school for Holly, but before she
leaves... |
...Val makes her take off her maxi-skirt... |
...and her bulky sweater! |
Who do you think invented decoy clothes, anyway? |
There's no decoying how cool this "younger sister" is,
though! |
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PUBLICITY STILLS from the WB |
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